Mail-box support.



L. G. YEAKEL.

MAIL BOX SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JULYza, 1912.

Patented Feb. 11, 1.913.

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W7 /yeaze Z COLUMBIA PLANEOGRAPH C0. WASHLAMITFON. D. C.

L. G. YEAKEL. MAIL BOX SUPPORT.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 25, 1912.

,053,982. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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LEVI Gr. YEAKEL, OF BATH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BOX SUPPORT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application filed July 25, 1912. Serial No. 711,589.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LEVI Gr. YEAKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bath, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Supports, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to mail-box supports, and it comprehends, briefly, certain hereinafter described improvements in or relating to the construction of the support proper, and the mounting of the mail-box thereon, whereby the latter may be readily drawn into the vehicle by the postman, so as to facilitate the delivery and collection of the mail.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved mail-box support, with parts broken away and in section, the box being shown in its extended or operative position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the box in normal position; Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, a perspective view and a rear elevation of the box, the latter ligure showing, also, the mounting of the box; and Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the two component parts of the turn-table included in the support.

In the construction represented in said drawing, the support is shown as comprising superposed xed and` extensible sections 1 and 2, the former of which consists of a suitable wooden post or upright embedded in the ground close to the edge of the road. The upper or extensible section consists, in turn, of telescopically-associated inner and outer members 3 and 4, the outer member carrying the mail-box 5 at its upper end. The inner member 3 is preferably in the form of a curved or bowed rod and is slidably incased by the tubular outer member 4. which is correspondingly curved, as will be understood, this construction enabling the outer member to be slid upwardly and outwardly by the postman upon and along the inner member, until the mail-box enters the open front part of the vehicle. Any suitable implement may be utilized to effect the movement of the sliding member, as, for example, the hooked rod 6 depicted in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the hook end of the rod engaging in an eye 7, or the like, with which the upper end of said member is provided. To facilitate this movement by avoiding friction as far as possible, the aforesaid outer member may also be provided adjacent its lower end with a set of ball-bearings 8, disposed in contact with the inner member and held in place by the detachable section 10, said section having a threaded connection with the main portion or body of the outer member, as shown. The bore of the said body port-ion of the outer member has a diameter somewhat greater than that of the section 10, but is contracted at its lower end to produce a shoulder 12, with which the enlarged terminal head 13 of the inner member coacts, to limit the outward and upward movement of the sliding member, this head having, by preference, a beveled or inclined upper face, and a series of seats wherein ball-bearings 9 are disposed.

The mail-box 5 is approximately torpedoshaped, and its upper wall is split longitudinally and hinged at its opposite side edges to provide a pair of doors 14 which may be locked in closed position by any suitable means. Said box has, preferably, a swiveled connection with the outer end of the sliding member 4 so as to permit it to occupy a horizontal position during its movements therewith, the bottom wall of the box resting at such times upon the shoulder 15 produced by cutting away the upper portion of the said member, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the construction illustrated, the abovementioned swivel connection is effected by passing a pivot pin or bolt 16 horizontally through alining perforations formed in the end of member 4 and in the legs of a yoke 17 that depends from and is integrally connected to a plate 18, upon which latter the mail-box rests, and to which it is fastened. The stem portion 19 of this yoke is elongated, as shown, and its bottom edge is curved or beveled for coaction with the inclined face of head 13 to maintain the box in horizontal position on reaching the limit of its downward movement, the engagement of the two parts 19 and 13 at the end of the downward movement of the box and its carrier 4 resulting in the said box being forced to assume the position indicated.

It will be apparent, from the foregoing, that the arrangement of parts is such that the postman, on reaching a position directly opposite the mail-box, can readily draw the box into the interior of the vehicle, by engaging the hooked end of the rod 6 with the eye 7 on the sliding member l and pulling the latter upwardly and inwardly toward him. When brought into the wagon in this manner, the box can be opened and the mail delivered to and collected from it without being exposed to possible injury from rain or snow.

To enable the entire upper section of the support to be turned or swung in either direction, and to retain the same normally in adjusted position, a suitable turn-table is provided, one element of which is springc'ontrolled. In the present instance, the turn-table comprises a pair of superposed plates 20 and 2l connected, respectively, vto the member 3 and xed section l, the lastmentioned plate being provided with a depending peripheral lange 22 which is fastened directly to said fixed section. The plate 2O is mounted axially upon member 3 and at a short distance from the end of the reduced lower terminal 23 thereof, said terminal extending loosely through a central perforation in the lower plate 21 and carrying an expansible coil spring 24 which is interposed between that plate and a nut 25 fitted upon the threaded end of the terminal so as to force the upper plate downwardly toward the said lower plate. Between the two plates 20 and 2l is arranged a series kof roller bearings 26 that are disposed in seats 27 formed in one of said plates, (the lower plate, in the construction represented in Fig. 6.) These bearings coact with stops 28 provided upon the other plate, e., the upper plate 20), and here shown as constructed by depending camlike projections that are designed to ride over the bearings when the movable section of the support is to be swung or turned through anarc of more than a predetermined extent. Four bearings, and the same number of stops are depicted in Figs. 5 and 6, though there is obviously no necessary restriction to that particular number.

I claim as my invent-ion 1. A device of the class specified comprising, in combination, a support consisting of a stationary vertical lower section, an extensible swinging upper section mounted thereon, a turn-table located at the junction of said sections and embodying a rotatable element secured to the upper section adjacent the lower terminal thereof, and a fixed element secured to said lower section and provided with a central perforation through which said lower terminal loosely extends, antifriction bearings interposed between said eleinents, stops carried byone of said elements and coperative with said bearings, a controlling spring associated with said lower terminal, and a mail-box connected to the outer member of said upper sect-ion.

2. In a inail-box support, the combination, with a curved rod provided at its upper end with a beveled head, of a curved tube slidably fitted upon said rod and having an open upper end, a yoke pivotally mounted in said tube end and provided with an elongated stem, and a plate towhi'chfsaid stem is secured adapted to carry the mailbox, said stem having a beveled lower edge coperative with said head when said tube reaches the limit of its downward sliding movement, to maintain the mail-box in horizontal position. A

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. LEVI G. YEAKEL. Witnesses GEO. J. KUNTZ, HERBERT T. LiLLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

